Rail anchor



Jan. 12, 1932. W, M, .-LORANCE 1,840,891

RAIL ANCHOR Filed Deo. l, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 31a/vanto@ Jan. 12, 1932. w. M. FLoRANcE 1,840,891

RAIL ANCHOR Filed Dec. l, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl l /l/f gru/uente@ 50 a rail, 15 a Cross tie,

Patented Jan. 12, 1932 i 'rar as @PATENT OFFICE WARREN 1v1. FLOBANCE, orL BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, AssreNoR rro sacrament;

STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF'IPENNSYLVANIA RAIL ANCHOR Applicatian mea December 1,1930. semi No. 499,277.

invention relates to rail anchors and particularly to a one-piece double-acting type provide a rail anchorVv which is easily applied to a rail, which efficiently grips the rail base lia-nge to retain the anchor in operative position on the rail and which cooperates with a stationary member of the roadbedV to prevent the rail from creeping. Another object of my invention is to provide a rail anchor which is applied to va rail. road rail by distortion and which will be held in operative position by the'tendency of the anchor to resume a condition from which p '20 it was sprung when applied to the rail. Y

VA further object of my invention is to provide a one piece railv anchor which isadaptable to rails having base anges of dierent widths. Y. r f

Another object of my'invention is to pro-v vide a rail anchorwhich will check the longitudinal creeping of the rail in'either direction of traliic.

The novel features of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description and claims taken with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of my improved anchor. f

Fig; 2 is a view of a portion of a railroad rail,a cross tie supporting theraiha spike securing the rail to the tie and the rail anchor' in its initial and operative positions on the rail. Y Y

Fig. 3 is a view of the right hand end of the anchor as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4L is a section taken on line l--Lifofl Fig. 2. .y Fig. 5 is a view of the left hand end of the anchor as shown in Fig. 2. y

Figs. 6,74, 8, 9 and 10 are similar to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, andl 5, but illustrating a modilied Y construction of the anchor. f l

Referring to the drawings: 14 designates 16 a tie plate, 17 a spike,

and '18`and 19 the vrespective forms of rail anchors. p

1n the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1' to 5 inclusive, the anchor comprises end members 21 i connecting member 23-which is adapted to bridge a tie. y Y

Y Theranchor is preferably made fromva bar of resilient metal of uniform section and its ends 21 and 22 are formed with, notches 24 and 25 to provide shoulders or vrailengaging members 26 and 27. -The said members are formed so as to engage the bottom of one of the rail base flanges.

The -connecting member23 is preferably i formed with a/pocket or depression 28 which is adapted to pass yover the Vh ead of a spike but out of gripping engagementwith the up- Y y er surface thereof, so that the depending portion 30 will engage the rail adjacent the spike andthe anchor will fulcrum on the rail base and not on the spike head. Y The ortioni() also functions to engage the sides of the spike head upon ythe rail tovmovelongitudinally,v and to engage the inner edge of the spike headupon the tendency of the anchor to move laterally of the rail so as to prevent the dislodgment of the anchor when it is in its operative position.V A v The anchor is applied to a rail by hookingits end 21 over the flange ofthe rail so that the' shoulder 26 'engages the under surface of the rail base and bringing the pocket-28y overv the head ofthe spike so'that the portion 30 is' in engagement with the upper surface of the lrailvbase liange. `The anchor is now in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Pressure is now applied to the other end of the member 23,'such as by placing the foot thereon, 'and a downward Iblow is struck with a hammer at the point indicated by the` arrow in Fig. 2. kThis will cause the shoulder 27 to be brought into engagement with the under side of the rail base, having entered the notch 24C. yThe shoulders 26 and 27 willnow be in gripping engage` ment with the under surface of the rail base flange and the portion'. 80 is in ygripping engagement with the upper surface of the rail and 22`and an intermediate the tendency of l the rail base flange Vand modiiications Without -I claim as new and desire base fiange due to the tendency of the anchor to resume its original condition before being sprung onto the rail.

In Figs. 6 to l() I have illustrated a modified embodiment of my invention. In this modification the general features and principle of action and application are the same as for the anchor shown in Figs. 1 to 5 1nclusive, the principal difference being the manner inwliiclithe fulcrum is formed on the member 35, and also that modified means are provided to prevent longitudinal Yand lateral movement of the anchor. v

In this case the member 35 is depressed at 87 to form the rail base engaging portion 38 and the bar is further depressed at 39 to provide a tongue 86 which is adapted to enter an aperture in the tie plate 16. The ends 40 and il are formed With notches 42 and 48, respectively, to provide rail engaging members or shoulders iii and 45, respectively, which are adapted to engage the bottom of the rail adjacent the edge of one of the rail base flanges.

The method of application of this-modified form, as shown in F ig. 6, is substantially the same as for the form shown in Fig. 2, that is, the end 40 is hooked over the rail base flange with the shoulder la engaging the under surface of the iange, the tongue 36 is inserted in the aperture il@ and the rail engaging portion 38 is brought into engagement with the upper surface of the rail base flange. The anchor is now in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Further application of the anchor is identical With that for the form shown in F ig. 2.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that I have devised an improved one-piece rail anchor which is simple in construction, easily applied to the rail base and efhciently grips same-to check the creeping tendency of the railin either direction of travel. My device is particularly adaptable to rails having base iianges of different Widths as it grips only one side of the flange of a rail its gripping ability is not affected by changes in Widths of base flanges.

Another feature of importance is the fact that the anchor does not depend upon any member of the` roadbed for its gripping effect 'on the rail.

IVhiie I have shown my invention in a plurality of forms, it Will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is notV so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A rail anchor comprising spaced end members adapted to engage one edge of a rail base, a connecting member for said end members adapted to bridge a tie and means connected to said connecting member adapted to engage the upper surface of the rail base flange.

2. A rail anchor comprising end portions adapted to engage one edge of a rail base flange, and an intermediate portion connecting said end portions, said intermediate portion having a depending portion adapted to engage the upper'surface of th-e rail base flange adjacent the head of a track spike when said anchor is in its operative position on the rail.

3. A rail anchor comprising end members adapted to engage one side of a rail, a connecting member for said end members, and means associated with said connecting inember adapted to engage the rail intermediate said end members and provide a fulcrum for said end members.

4l. A rail anchor comprising depending end portions adapted to grip one edge of a rail base, a member connecting said end portions, a depression in said connecting member adapted to provide a clearance for a spike head and means on said connecting member adjacent said depression adapted to grip a rail base iiang 5. A rail anchor comprising spaced depending end portions adapted to grip one si'de of a rail, a connecting member for said end portions adapted to bridge a tie and means depending from said connecting mem` ber intermediate the end portions adapted to grip the rail When the anchor is in its operative position.

6. A rail anchor comprising depending end members adapted to engage one flange of a rail base and a resilient member connecting said depending members adapted to bear with spring pressure against the aforementioned flange of the rail-base.

7. A rail anchor comprising depending members formed With shoulders adapted to engage the underside of a rail ybase at one side of a rail, a resilient member connecting the upper ends of said depending'members, said resilient member having depending means adapted to engage the upper surface of the rail base flange to distort the resilient member When the anchor is applied to a rail and to effect a gripping action between said shoulders and the 'base of the rail and the de` pending means and the upper surface of the rail base flange.

8. A rail anchor comprising depending members formed With shoulders adapted to engage one iiange of a rail base, a resilient member connecting said uepending members and adapted to bear with spring pressure against the upper surface of the rail base, said depending members adapted to vbe positioned on opposite sides of a cross tie when in operative position on a rail.

9. A rail anchor comprising a resilient rail engaging member adapt-ed to bridge a railway cross tie and downwardly turned end members adapted to engage the flange of a rail base, said resilient member having a depressed portion to provide clearance for the upper surface of a spike head.

10. A rail anchor comprising spaced members adapted to engage one flange of a rail base on opposite sides of a cross tie, a member adapted to engage the upper surfacevof said flange intermediate said spaced members and connecting means for the aforementioned members. f

11. A rail anchor comprising spaced members adapted to engage one flange of a rail base on opposite sides of a cross tie and a connecting member having means adapted to engage the upper surface of the rail flange above the cross tie, said connecting member adapted to be deformed from its normalposition during the application of the anchor to the rail.

er the tie when operatively applied to tie comprising a spike, said means having cent the spike head and 12. A rail anchor comprising a plurality of rail engaging members adapted to engage one edge of t e rail base and means connecting said members adapted to overlie the head f.

of a traclz spile but out of gripping engagement with the upper surface thereof.

' 13. A rail anchor comprising a plurality ofV rail engaging members adapted to engage one edge of the rail base, means connecting the ends of said members adapted to overlie the head of a track spike and in spaced relation with the upper surface thereof and means depending from said connecting means adapted to engage the railV base flangeradjacent the spike head.

14. A one piece rail anchor for rails adapted to straddle a cross tie and to grip one edge of the rail base flange and to coact with the upper surface of the rail base flange above the rail.

15. A one piece rail anchor for rails having a plurality of members adapted to grip one edge ofthe rail base, means connecting said members adapted to bridge the head of a depending portion adapted to contact with the rail base flange adjacent the spike head whereby the anchor will be held in frictional engagement with the upper surface of the railbase adjaat a plurality lof points on the under surface of the rail base flange when the anchor is in its operative position.

16. A rail anchor adapted to bridge a cross members for gripping one flange of the rail base at points on opposite sides of the tie and a member for gripping said rail base at a point above the tie.

17. ln combination with va railway cross tie, a rail in position thereon and spikes for limiting the rail against lateral kmovement upon the tie, a rail anchor having rail engaging members adapted to frictionally engage one edge of the rail base at opposite sides of the tie and another member adapted to frictionally engage the rail base above the tie, and to engage the sides of the head of a spike to resist longitudinal movement of said rail relative to saidA tie. Y

18. In combination with a railwayV cross tie, a rail in position thereon, a one-piece anchor having rail engaging members adapted to frictionallyengage one edge of the rail base at opposite sides of the tie, and a connecting member having a depending portion adapted to engage the'rail base above the tie to provide a fulcrum when one of said rail'engaging members is moved downwardly to flex said connecting member whereby a gripping action is effected between the anchor and the rail.

19. In Vcombination with a railway roadbed,'a rail, a one piecevrail anchorcomprising spaced rail engaging members adapted Y to frictionally engage one edge of the rail base, means connecting said members adapted to-bridgel a tie and means associated with said connecting means adapted to frictionally Y engage the rail above the tie and to engage a relatively stationary member of the roadbed, whereby longitudinal movement of the rail is resisted. V Y r2O. A rail anchor adapted to be driven on to a rail comprising depending notched end portions adapted to grip one edge of a rail flange and a connecting member for said end portions adapted to bridge atie and engage the upper surface of the base of the aforementioned rail flange. i

21. A rail anchor comprising' a portion adapted to fulcrum on a rail intermediate the edges vof a tie and depending end portions having shoulders adapted to engage Vthe base of a rail at each side of the tie respectively. 22. A rail anchor comprising end portions adapted to grip one edge of a rail flange, a connecting member adapted to grip the upper surface ofthe rail flange, and a depending member associated with said connecting member adapted to engage a tie plate to prevent longitudinal movement of the rail.

23. A rail anchor comprising end portions adapted to engage one edge of a rail flange, a connecting member for said end portions adapted to bridge a tie and engage the upper surface of the rail flange and a depending for said endV portions member connected to said connecting member signature.

WARREN M. FLORANCE. 

